VA Aid & Attendance Pension Benefits w/o The Sale of Annuities

The VA Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit is available for wartime veterans or their surviving spouses. For 2011, a single veteran can receive up to $1,644 per month, and $1,949 if married. The widowed spouse can receive up to $1,056 per month. This benefit is most helpful for payment of in home care, assisted living facility […]

Swimming With Grandchildren Without A Pool!

I can’t help myself talking about our grandkids, at least one more time. My wife and I have two grandchildren, a boy 4 and a girl 2 ½. Both kids “stayed over” a couple of weekends ago. They arrived on Saturday morning with their little suitcases packed, which included their swimsuits. They wanted to swim […]

My Grandchildren are Too Cute!

When I was younger and people started to talk about their grandchildren, I would practically plug my ears. Now that we have two grandchildren, ages 4 and 2, I am the one who can’t stop talking about them. So, since I can’t stop myself, I must tell you a story about my granddaughter, Edie. She will be […]

Protecting Senior Finances With Estate Planning

It is highly recommended for the older person, that their estate planning documents be put in place as early as possible, in order to help guard against elder financial abuse. It is when the older person begins to show signs of a loss of mental capacity, that financial predators step in to take advantage of the older person. We have been […]

Where’s Your Cane Dad?

When my elderly father would come to visit me, I would ask, “Where’s your cane Dad?” He would say that he didn’t need it, and that he was trying to build up his strength. He needed to use his cane though, because he would hang onto me or my brother, or hang onto whatever was close to […]

Don’t Wait Too Long To Update Trust & Fin. DPA

Most (perhaps 99%) of all revocable living trusts and financial durable powers of attorney are defective for asset protection and government benefits planning, when incapacity occurs.   For the older client, we become focused on how we will pay for in-home care,  board-and-care, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing home costs. We are concerned about […]

What Happens If You Don’t Die?

Most estate planning documents are prepared for what happens when we die. They are not prepared for what happens if we don’t die. With regard to the trust, if one spouse dies, for instance, everything goes to the other spouse. When the second spouse dies, everything goes to the children. During the lives of the […]

Some Differences Between Medicaid and Medi-Cal

     Medicare is a Federal health insurance program. Social Security funds are used to pay the costs of the program. Individuals who are over the age of 65, and who have made Social Secuirty contributions during their working lives are entitled to benefits. Part A of Medicare pays for hospitalization, hospice and some health care. It also […]

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility for a Loved One With Dementia

When choosing an assisted living facility for a loved one who suffers from dementia, certain things should be taken into account regarding the facility. More and more assisted living facilities can now accommodate residents with various levels of dementia. Some facilities have separate wings or dementia units. I have visited many assisted living facilities, and have many clients with […]

Veterans Benefits For The Surviving Spouse

The surviving spouse of a wartime Veteran may be eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. This benefit can help pay the costs of in home care, board and care and assisted living facilities for the surviving spouse. We must be able to show that the surviving spouse had been married to the Veteran for at least one […]